USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of the officers and committees of the town of Scituate 1919-1921 > Part 19
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· The safeguarding of the public, who use our streets, can only be accomplished by having an adequate number of officers to properly patrol the most dangerous points along our streets, during the season when auto traffic is at its . height, and it necessitates quite a large expenditure of money to give this protection. .
I therefore recommend for the coming year an appro- priation of $6,000.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN F. TURNER, Chief of Police.
134
Report of Fire Department
REPORT OF FIRE DEPARTMENT
To the Board of Selectmen:
The Board of Engineers appointed by your honorable board for the year ending April 30, 1922, met in accordance with your instructions and organized with the following officers :
Charles M. Litchfield, chief; Alfred B. Cole, first assistant chief; Joseph P. Murphy, second assistant chief; Harry M. Litchfield, district chief; Frank W. Litchfield, district chief and clerk of the Board of Engineers.
This department has been called to fifty-three (53) alarms during the year.
At the time the Fire Department was organized in 1903 the valuation was $3,369,645 and it increased to $7,577,920 in 1921; this valuation has been steadily growing even during the war period.
The department is in very good condition and is now fully motorized. During the year the Department of Public Safety has called upon the department several times for co-operation, and in the opinion of the Board of Engineers (if the present suggestion of the Fire Marshal is enacted before the incoming Legislature) it will be a case of constant supervision on the part of the Fire Department to comply with these Prevention Rules.
We wish to call the attention of all householders to the fact that the majority of fires during the extremely cold weather are mainly caused by overheated heating apparatus and in view of the fact that in every case that has been called to our attention, we find no one carrying an adequate amount of insurance, we feel sure that you will co-operate with us in preventing this condition. All places of business are urged and warned to keep their premises in and about their buildings free from refuse of all kinds. The inhabitants
135
Report of Fire Department
are warned to keep within the law relative to outdoor fires.
We are calling the above facts to your attention owing to our feeling that we have not yet the proper equipment to adequately cope with any fire occurring in any of our congested areas or in our public buildings, as all we have to depend on is whatever pressure there may be in the water mains at the time the fires occur, and that has been proven to be not what we require.
A very good solution to the problem would be the addition of a pumping engine to our equipment, as we have before advocated.
CHARLES M. LITCHFIELD, Chief, ALFRED B. COLE, First Assistant Chief, JOSEPH P. MURPHY, Second Assistant Chief, HARRY M. LITCHFIELD, District Chief, FRANK W. LITCHFIELD, Clerk of Board.
136
Report of the Clean-Up Committee
REPORT OF THE CLEAN-UP COMMITTEE
To the Citizens of Scituate:
At the first meeting of the Clean-Up Committee plans were made for a special week in which the rubbish accumu- lated during the winter should be disposed of in the usual manner. Large posters naming the dates and the men to whom the Town's people could apply were posted in different parts of the Town. Also the local paper, moving picture screens and the clergymen of various churches helped in the advertising.
As our appropriation was much less than in former years, we endeavored to have the work done for a specified price, that we might not exceed the appropriation.
One new can was purchased, lettered and placed at Greenbush.
An application from Minot for another can necessitated our removing one from North Scituate to take care of rubbish strewn about in that vicinity. Otherwise the cans were placed as usual and cared for during the summer months by the Boy Scouts at North Scituate and Scituate Harbor. Three or four people kindly offered to attend to cans in their vicinity.
As far as the present committee can learn the work of Boy Scouts has been very satisfactory and with the co-opera- tion of the Town's people it appears that the amount appropriated this year is sufficient.
Following is the report of the Treasurer:
Received from Town Treasurer .
$200 00
Paid out as follows:
Carrie M. Ford, printing $1 75
Welch Co., galvanized ash can . 7 00
Mitchell Brothers, collecting rubbish . . 45 90
137
Report of the Clean-Up Committee
David O'Hern, collecting rubbish
$80 00
W. W. Locke, Scout Master 28 00
Allan D. Creelman, Scout Master 28 00
C. G. Everett, lettering barrels and postage .
1 62
$192 27
Balance on hand October 26, 1921
7 73
Balance returned to Town Treasurer
$200 00
(Signed) CHARLES D. EVERETT.
Respectfully submitted,
SCITUATE CLEAN-UP COMMITTEE, E. G. WATERMAN, Chairman.
138
Report of the Scituate Historical Society
REPORT OF SCITUATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
January 9, 1921.
To the Inhabitants of the Town of Scituate:
The Scituate Historical Society, Custodian of the Cudworth House, is pleased to report that during the past year the historical dwelling has received many appreciative visitors. With the restoration of the bedroom on the second floor the house is now wholly returned to its original condi- tion and the generosity of the Town's people and members of the society is annually adding to the interesting articles of furniture and historic value with which it is furnished. It was open daily and in the care of an attendant during the summer months and the success of the adoption of this plan leads the trustees to its continuance.
SCITUATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, HARVEY H. PRATT, President.
139
Report of Committee on Street Nomenclature
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON STREET NOMENCLATURE
To the Inhabitants of the Town of Scituate:
The undersigned respectfully recommends that for the purpose of completing the erection of the attractive sign boards along our highways an appropriation of two hundred and fifty dollars be made this year. To those who have travelled upon the ancient Plymouth and Bay Road, the Massachusetts Path, the Country Way and the King's Highway in Norfolk, Plymouth and Barnstable counties, the guideboards, similar in design to those that have been erected in our own Town, give evidence of the appreciation felt by others of our effort in marking our highways with becoming boards. A small amount of which the above sum is a part will entirely complete the work. When it is accom- plished the signboards themselves should be protected against vandalism.
THE COMMITTEE ON STREET NOMENCLATURE, MARY A. FORD, Chairman .
140
Report of Allen Memorial Library
ALLEN MEMORIAL LIBRARY From May 1, 1920, to May 1, 1921
Receipts
Cash from Town . $600 00
Payments
Books
$200 00
Fuel
200 00
Salaries
200 00
$600 00
AMY ALLEN FRYE, Treasurer.
141
Report of the Peirce Memorial Library
PEIRCE MEMORIAL LIBRARY
TREASURER'S REPORT For the Year Ending May 13, 1921
Cash on hand May 14, 1920 .
$70 55
Received from the Town of Scituate 500 00
Received from members of Library
42 00
Received from fines and dues
26 00
Received from rent. 24 00
$662 55
PAYMENTS
Librarian .
$171 00
Electric lights and repairs
44 68
Printing
10 50
Water
8 40
Cleaning
21 00
Fuel .
116 50
Periodicals
73 55
Books .
67 66
Insurance
30 20
Janitor
65 28
Express and postage.
1 83
$610 60
Cash on hand May 13, 1921
51 95
$662 55
Permanent fund in Cohasset Savings
Bank . $381 58
FRANCIS B. LEE, Treasurer.
142
Report of the Welcome Home Committee
REPORT OF WELCOME HOME COMMITTEE
To the Board of Selectmen, Scituate, Massachusetts.
Gentlemen:
As Chairman of the Scituate Welcome Home Com- mittee I have to report as follows:
The $500 appropriated at the Annual Town Meeting last March for the care of Lawson Park during the 1921 season was expended for this purpose. The grass was care- fully mowed during the entire season as often as necessary, which most of the time was twice each week. Flowers were planted around the boulder and the trees were properly watered and treated; some that had died were replaced and a line of telephone poles on the park side of Willow Street were moved by the Telephone Company at the urgent demands of your Committee.
The park presented a splendid appearance last summer and was viewed by many visitors on their way to the Plymouth celebration. The lawn is in excellent condition, but it is vitally important that the park continue to receive proper care as a few weeks neglect could easily spoil a great deal of the good that has been accomplished.
I most earnestly recommend an appropriation of $500 for the care of the park during the coming season. This amount is necessary to insure proper care. If the voters desire it your chairman will gladly undertake to see that the right kind of care is given the park this year and he will agree to supply any deficiency if the $500 asked for is not adequate for the purpose, or if the voters prefer to have the work done under the supervision of the Selectmen, he will co-operate with them in every way possible. His sole desire in the matter is to see that the park is properly taken care of, and if the voters feel that it is now time for the Welcome
143
Report of the Welcome Home Committee
Home Committee to pass out of existence and the Board of Selectmen to take its place, your chairman is more than willing that such should be the case.
Respectfully submitted, THOMAS W. LAWSON, Chairman.
REPORT OF TREASURER SCITUATE WELCOME HOME FUND
RECEIPTS
Town of Scituate for care of Lawson Park. $500 00
EXPENDITURES
Dreamwold, the Farm of Thomas W. Lawson Company for care of Lawson Park. $500 00
HARVEY E. DORR, Treasurer.
144
List of Jurors for 1921
LIST OF JURORS FOR 1921
PREPARED AS PROVIDED IN CHAPTER 348, ACTS OF 1907
Abbott, Augustus L., Central Street, clerk Ainslie, Jere R., Country Way, merchant Barnes, Franklin P., Maple Street, mason Barry, Frank H., Willow Street, barber Barry, James J., Willow Street, mason Barry, James S., Willow Street, fisherman Bates, Burleigh E., Blossom Street, laborer
Bates, Frank L., High Street, painter Bates, Harry E., High Street, painter Bearce, Eben E., Stockbridge Road, painter Bearce, George E., Allen Street, carpenter Bingham, Richmond F., Tilden Road, draughtsman
Brown, Eugene T., Blossom Street, laborer Burbank, George H., High Street, laborer Bush, Edward, High Street, painter Carpenter, Charles B., Country Way, laborer Clapp, William O., Summer Street, farmer Cobbett, Irving B., Otis Road, teamster Cole, Alfred B., Brook Street, carpenter Cole, Frank H., Stockbridge Road, carpenter Conroy, Fred A., First Cliff, moss dealer Cummings, John, Brook Street, retired Damon, George Wilbur, High Street, farmer Ellis, Walter, Tichnor Court, retired Fish, Charles T., Tilden Road, mechanic Gardner, Walter C., Central Street, laborer Graves, Fred D., Surfside Road, retired Hardwick, Charles H., High Street, farmer Hardwick, Lemuel F., Summer Street, carpenter Harris, Thomas H., Front Street, fisherman
-
145
List of Jurors for 1921
Hernan, Thomas F., Tilden Road, laborer Hollister, Henry H., Pond Avenue, retired Hyland, Charles E., Blossom Street, shoemaker Joyce, Stephen L., Third Cliff, laborer Knox, Russell T., Country Way, painter Litchfield, Arthur E., Summer Street, farmer Litchfield, Elisha, Central Street, painter Litchfield, Waldo, Cedar Street, farmer Litchfield, William H., High Street, laborer Marston, Samuel A., Blossom Street, laborer McCarthy, Jerry, Willow Street, mosser Sargent, Willard A., Blossom Street, painter Welch, George F., Otis Street, real estate
ANSEL F. SERVAN, CHARLES W. PEARE, ERNEST R. SEAVERNS, Selectmen of Scituate.
INDEX OF ACCOUNTS
GENERAL GOVERNMENT
Salaries and Expenses . 5
PROTECTION OF PERSONS AND PROPERTY
Police Department. 9
Fire Department .
11
Hydrant Rental .
35
Sealer of Weights and Measures
23
Moth Work .
17
Elm Tree Beetle 19
Tree Warden® 18
Bounties 48
HEALTH AND SANITATION
Board of Health 19
HIGHWAYS
Roads, General 36
Sidewalks . 46
Snow and Ice. 41
Preservation of Macadam. 46
Street Lighting 23
CHARITIES
Support of Poor . 14
SOLDIERS' BENEFITS
State Aid .
24
Soldiers' Relief 24
EDUCATION
Support of Schools 24
LIBRARIES . 32
RECREATION
Park Commission 22
UNCLASSIFIED 32
REDUCTION OF DEBT 33
STATE AND COUNTY TAXES 34
REFUNDS . 34
INDEX OF REPORTS
ANIMAL INSPECTOR 126
ASSESSORS .
81
AUDITOR .
92
BOARD OF HEALTH
123
CLEAN-UP COMMITTEE
136
COLLECTOR
85
FIRE DEPARTMENT
134
LIBRARIES
140
MILK INSPECTOR .
125
OVERSEERS OF POOR
84
PARK COMMISSION
121
PLUMBING INSPECTOR
124
POLICE DEPARTMENT
133
SCITUATE WATER COMPANY
115
SELECTMEN .
5
STREET NAMING COMMITTEE
139
TREASURER .
87
TREE WARDEN
122
TOWN CLERK . 93
PUBLIC NURSING SERVICE
127
WELCOME HOME COMMITTEE
142
SCHOOL REPORT . Appendix
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF SCITUATE
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31
1921
SETTS
IN
3€
SATUIT
RPORATE
PRINTED BY THE BOUNDBROOK PRESS, NORTHI SCITUATE, MASS.
INDEX
ORGANIZATION 3
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
4 7
REPORT OF PRINCIPAL OF HIGH SCHOOL
13
REPORT OF SUPERVISOR OF DRAWING
REPORT OF SUPERVISOR OF MUSIC
REPORT OF SCHOOL PHYSICIAN
REPORT OF SCHOOL NURSE
REPORT OF SCHOOL DENTIST
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
CHANGES IN TEACHERS
TEACHING FORCE.
15 17 19 21 23 26 29 30 31
MEMBERSHIP BY GRADES
MEMBERSHIP, ATTENDANCE, TARDINESS 32
GRADUATING EXERCISES . 33
3
School Department
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
ORGANIZATION
Philip S. Bailey, Chairman. Address, North Scituate. Term expires in 1922.
Mrs. Marion Collier Alexander, Secretary. Address, Scituate. Term expires in 1924.
Cleveland Cogswell. Address. North Scituate. Term expires in 1923.
The regular meetings of the Committee are held at the office of the Superintendent, Old High School building, at 8 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the month.
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
Frederick E. Bragdon. Address, Egypt, Mass. Telephone Scituate 289-2.
SCHOOL PHYSICIAN T. Branch Alexander, M.D. Scituate, Mass. ATTENDANCE OFFICER Mrs. Waldo Litchfield Cohasset, R. F. D.
SCHOOL CALENDAR 1922
The winter term begins January 3 and closes February 24. Reopens March 6 and closes April 28.
The spring term opens May 8; closing' (to be announced).
The fall term opens September 5 and closes December 22, 1922.
The winter term opens January 2, 1923.
HOLIDAYS
January 1, February 22, April 19, May 31, October 12, Thanksgiving Day and the day following.
4
Report of School Committee
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
To the Citizens of the Town of Scituate:
We have reached another milestone on the path to education, and we may safely say we are going in the right direction under the wise guidance of our Superintendent, Mr. Bragdon. Reports from the various departments of school work all show improvement under his carefully laid plans.
The Committee is very pleased to bring the Vocational School to your attention, as this is the first year it has been tried and the result is very satisfactory. In spite of criti- cism and discouragements at the beginning it is proving itself more than a fad - a really useful department, giving training to girls for one of the most important businesses of life.
The Commercial Department of the High School is called to your attention also, as the system was changed this year - with better response from the students.
Response from the Dental Clinic, which is new this year, is very gratifying.
The Jenkins School has been painted and a few neces- sary repairs given, which put the building in fine condition, and electric lights have been installed in both the Jenkins and the Hatherly buildings.
There is one department of our schools, and it is an important one, which your Committee feels should have a word of commendation. It is in reference to the manner in which the buildings are kept by the janitors. Such service is appreciated and is most praiseworthy.
The High School building has been equipped with all- metal weather strips on all the doors and windows, and repairs have been made on the roof.
5
Report of School Committee
The list of visitors at the schools is not as long as we wish it were. Most children are delighted when their friends or parents appear in their rooms. Won't you please try to step in oftener? Your interest and pleasure will increase as well the inspiration of the teacher when he feels your co-operation.
If parents and school officers could succeed in making pupils realize that school is a serious affair upon which their futures depend, more could be accomplished and less time would be wasted in foolishness.
In America educated men have always been the leaders, in wars as well as in peace. But educated intelligent citizens were never needed more than they are now. At the present time when national affairs are so complicated, men, and women, too, need to understand the activities thoroughly to use good sense in voting. No one can do this unless he has sufficient education to strengthen his mind and broaden his viewpoint. If students will but stop to think they can easily see that they are working for their country as well as for themselves.
The Scituate Woman's Club offers a scholarship to the girl of the senior class who has an average of eighty per cent in three of four subjects for the year.
The Chief Justice Cushing Chapter of the D. A. R. presented the High School library with one history of the Town written by its members, entitled "Old Scituate."
The High School received a bust of Wagner from Mrs. George F. Welch.
A careful study of school finances has been made and a summary of the year's expenditures and next year's esti- mates are given below.
We recommend appropriations for 1922 as follows:
For support of schools (including, Vocational School and Dental Clinic) $39,650.00
For salary of School Committee 300.00
For transportation 11,000.00
Total $50,950.00
6
Report of School Committee
Reimbursements for teachers' salaries and one-half the maintenance cost of the Household Arts School are esti- mated at $4,800 which sum will be available for the reduction of the tax levy.
Respectfully submitted,
MARION COLLIER ALEXANDER, Secretary.
7
Report of Superintendent of Schools
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the School Committee of Scituate:
The record of the public schools of Scituate for 1921 is made. With a considerable degree of satisfaction we write the story. Three forward steps are the outstanding achieve- ments of the year. At the annual town meeting the enabling act for the beginning of a school of Household Arts was passed, as follows:
Voted, That the Town authorize the School Committee to establish and maintain State-Aided Vocational Education in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 417, Acts of 1911, and Acts amendatory thereto or dependent thereon. In accordance with this vote plans were laid for the opening in September of a State-Aided school officially known as the Scituate Vocational Household Arts Department, with the following organization: F. E. Bragdon, Director; Miss Olive Barrows, Principal; William W. Locke, Instructor in House- hold Science; Mrs. Doris' Ward, Instructor in Household Art. The Advisory Board: Mrs. Rena Cole, Chairman; Mrs. Mary Stearns, Secretary; Mrs. Ellsworth Curtis, Mrs. Paul Eaton, Mrs. Harold Poland.
Quarters for the school have been provided in the Old High School building, the main room of which has been con- verted into an apartment house by partitions. A large kitchen is equipped with a full-sized range with hot water, two oil ranges, a sink, ten individual drop-front cooking cabinets, and two work tables. The sewing room is furnished with chairs and tables for ten to fifteen pupils, two sewing machines, and a storage bureau and closets. A smaller apartment, not yet furnished, will eventually contain the equipment of a sleeping room, and be used for instruction in
8
Report of Superintendent of Schools
care of the room, first aid and home nursing. A dining room is being furnished in one of the small rooms adjoining the kitchen. When completed it will be a model room for a tasty cottage home in a brown color scheme and antique design. The planning and work of furnishing this dining room and the sleeping and reception rooms form a part of the instruc- tion and practice given to the pupils.
The school opened with a registration of twenty-five pupils, of whom seven are seniors. The law requires that no one under fourteen years of age shall be enrolled in this school. Therefore several of the freshman class were ineligible this year. This enrollment is relatively high and gratifying in that it confirms the arguments advanced for opening the school. The work is progressing with splendid spirit, and we confidently expect it will rapidly acquire a . very high efficiency. Later in the year there will be demon- strations and exhibitions of the skill and handiwork of the pupils.
The terms of organization of the school under which it is recognized for State aid to the extent of one-half of all expense for maintenance are that the pupils shall give one-half of the school day to the study of household arts and related subjects and the other half to such academic studies as may be offered by the High School. Such a combination course should prove attractive to every young woman, and do much toward removing the popular criticism that the instruction given in the public schools is not practical.
The second forward step is the establishment of the Dental Clinic. This was hastened to an appearance this year by the interest and assistance of the Nursing Service and the Red Cross, by whom the sum of five hundred dollars was contributed for dental equipment. It was decided to have the dentist work at the Jenkins School the first half of the year and at the Hatherly School the second half. A charge of twenty-five cents per sitting is made to cover the cost of material used. The salary of the dentist is paid from school funds appropriated for health work. Dr. F. A. Derby, of Allerton, is the dentist. He is at the school on
9
Report of Superintendent of Schools
Mondays and Wednesdays when the schools are in session. The popularity of this clinic may be inferred from the report of work done submitted by Dr. Derby. Our school physician, nurse, and many citizens speak loudly in praise of this phase of our work.
The third advance of the year is in the enlargement and reorganization of the commercial department of the High School. For some time past we have felt that the commercial department should cease to be a reservoir for the reception of pupils who are not fitted and therefore unable to pursue the work with success. We have contended that it was a poor investment to hold pupils for two, three or four years under instruction which at best produced only a few candi- dates for a real business course elsewhere. We also believed it would be wise to change the systems of bookkeeping and shorthand heretofore used to those systems which are acknowledged to be more satisfactory and successful. The resignation of Miss Pierce, for so many years a tireless worker and splendid influence in the school, furnished the desired opportunity. The scope of the curriculum was con- siderably enlarged, the conditions under which a pupil may enter the business course were made more stringent, the conditions of graduation were made to include ability to perform the class of clerical work studied in an acceptable manner by actual performance in real business for a stated period. Training in office practice, penmanship, business law, English and geography, and in economics is to be pro- vided to the end that the graduate may have not merely a smattering of shorthand and bookkeeping, but, more par- ticularly, a broad outlook upon business life, and a fair equivalent in mental training of the college preparatory courses. The task of instruction was given to Miss Nettie E. Elliott and Miss Grace H. Callanan. The transition from the Pitmanic to the Gregg system of shorthand was made easy by the unexpected failure of any of last year's pupils to register for shorthand. Thus the most difficult adjust- ment of the change was taken care of.
The enrollment for the year is not large. It may not be
10
Report of Superintendent of Schools
large for several years to come while the pupils are waking up to the consciousness that the commercial course at the Scituate High School means hard work and the successful completion of it practically insures a good position in busi- ness. We can well afford to work for quality of product. A few strong-minded, well-trained, enthusiastic graduates will be enough justification for the expense involved. There is no occasion with the present organization and instructors for our young people to go to the city for the completion of an ordinary business course. We are prepared to meet any reasonable demand for post-graduate instruction, and I have no doubt but that as the demand arises still more equipment of machines and of office furnishings will be provided.
These are the three outstanding achievements for the year, so far as organization is concerned. Of the achieve- ments in the previously established courses, it would be difficult to speak exhaustively. Frequently the teachers respond to the inquiry, "How are things going with you?" by saying, "Never better." Observation and parental approval support such assertion. Denying any claim of faultlessness, admitting that mistakes are made, it is still quite true that our teachers are getting very fine results. Scholarship is increasing; a spirit of loyalty, initiative, courtesy and good-will is being created; public sentiment is gathering behind the teachers to enforce habits of obedi- ence and industry; criticisms have lost most of their bitter- ness and have become constructive and helpful. Continuance of these conditions must inevitably produce schools and graduates which will be ever increasingly an honor and delight to Scituate folk.
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